Florence Football Tradition Continues at Bridgewater State

By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The long-running association between the Florence family and the Bridgewater State College football program began in 1971.

That is when Rich Florence, an offensive tackle, was recruited out of Keefe Academy in Lowell by coach Pete Mazzaferro to play for the Bears.

Over the course of 38 years since, a member of the Florence family has been part of the BSC program in 31 seasons as either a player or an assistant coach.

As the Bears celebrate the 50th year of the modern era of the football team this season, the Florence family has been around for more than half of that run.

Rich Florence was a four-year starter and served as captain in his senior year, then became an assistant to Mazzaferro from 1976-1993.

One of his nephews, John Florence, was an offensive guard from 1996-99, served as a captain as a senior and made the All-New England Football Conference team.

Another nephew, Billy Florence, who is John's cousin, was a three-year starter and All-NEFC choice at the beginning of this decade at offensive tackle after transferring from Saint Anselm College.

Now, Rich Florence's son, Casey, is a four-year starter at linebacker and a two-time All-NEFC Bogan Division selection in addition to being a captain for two seasons.

"To have someone from the Florence family involved with Bridgewater State football for 31 of 38 years is something to be proud of,'' said Rich Florence, the assistant principal at the Raynham Middle School. "It's just been tremendous.

"I didn't know anything about Bridgewater in 1971. I went to Keefe Academy and was in the last graduating class. I was looking at Springfield and Northeastern and Pete came to my high school.

"He invited myself and Tim Woods, who is now the athletic director at Dracut High, to come down and look at Bridgewater. It was an opportunity to get a good education. I have to credit Pete. He made me feel right at home.''

Florence, who resides in Bridgewater with his wife, Nancy, also a BSC graduate, joined Mazzaferro's coaching staff not long after graduating and remains close with the program's winningest head coach.

John Florence came to BSC after Rich Florence, who later coached at Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High, had left the Bears' staff. Billy Florence transferred into BSC after the one-year stint at Saint Anselm, and both had productive careers as linemen.

Casey Florence, a standout at B-R, had several Div. 3 options in 2006 but stayed close to home, though he says he did not make a conscious effort to keep the family tradition alive at BSC.

"It was more something that I did on my own,'' said Casey, a second-team All-Bogan Division pick in 2007 and a first-team selection in 2008. "I looked at a lot of schools and I decided on a state school and Bridgewater State is the top state school.

"It had my major, exercise science, and I was a homebody coming out of high school, so it was right for me.''

Casey was a youngster when his father - who plays an instrumental role in the BSC football alumni organization - was an assistant with the Bears, but he barely remembers going to games back in the early 1990s.

"We do have pictures, but I vaguely remember going to practices and being on the sidelines,'' he said. "I do remember helping set up the headphones when they weren't wireless and you had to run the wires up to the press box.''

Casey Florence has put together a stellar career at BSC, moving into the starting lineup in the second game of his freshman year and never leaving. He made 44  tackles, fifth on the team, in 2006, was second with 56 tackles as a sophomore and had 56 more last season.

Florence ranks third this season with 53 tackles heading into Saturday's game on homecoming weekend against Worcester State College at Swenson Field.

"He's just a great young man,'' said coach Chuck Denune. "He's a competitor. He's one of those guys that no matter the situation, he gives you everything he has. He's been a tremendous player for us.

"I had the good fortune to work with Casey and Billy and John and they are all similar as players and as young men. I heard Richie was one heckuva player and he's the backbone of the football alumni group.''

Casey Florence is pleased with the way his BSC career has developed, and he's glad that his father has been able to watch him play for his alma mater.

"My sophomore and junior years in high school, he was coaching at B-R, but that's a little different than watching you play,'' said Casey Florence. "Here, he's been able to sit in the stands and watch every game.''

Said Rich Florence: "It's been real enjoyable. I take a lot of pride in it. I was not only a player at Bridgewater and a former coach and alumni, and now I get to experience the program through the eyes of a parent. You look at it different, and I'm pleased where the product they put out.

"Casey has had a terrific experience, academically and athletically and socially, at Bridgewater. I took a step back and let Casey and my two nephews experience Bridgewater just like I was able to do."